Just 22 days ago, Northwestern dismantled Purdue 75-60 at Welsh-Ryan Arena, coming up with one of its best offensive performances of the season. Sunday was an extreme case of role reversal.
It was another ugly outing from the Wildcats (13-15, 4-11 Big Ten), as they fell 74-43 to the Boilermakers (13-14, 6-8). Still winless since losing senior forward Jared Swopshire to knee surgery, the 'Cats were plagued by early shooting woes and failed to find a viable first-option scorer.
No Wildcat scored in double digits. Freshman guard Tre Demps led the team with nine points, while Purdue junior Terone Johnson scored led the game with 22 points.
Northwestern started with just three points in the game's first five minutes, all coming from Demps. On the other end, the Boilermakers took down the Wildcat defense. Johnson drove in for countless open floaters, while senior D.J. Byrd was able to find easy jumpers at will. The two finished the half with 23 points combined, just two fewer than Northwestern’s team total.
It didn’t matter whether the 'Cats played man-to-man or in the 1-3-1 zone, as Purdue was hitting anything and everything. The Boilermakers went 5-of-6 from long range and shot 54 percent from the field. Despite turning it over 10 times in the half, they were able to build a huge lead.
Down 36-14, the Wildcats finally began to find their strokes, lead by senior guards Alex Marcotullio and Reggie Hearn. Each dropped in four quick points and sparked an 8-1 Wildcat run.
After a three from Terone Johnson, freshman center Mike Turner knocked down one of his own with just seconds remaining to send Northwestern into the half down just 40-25.
The momentum of the late 11-4 run didn’t carry over. Johnson, a 33 percent three-point shooter, hit his third three of the game to open the second half, and the Boilermakers didn’t stop there.
Purdue got out in transition at every possible opportunity, and they finished with circus shots. The brothers Johnson were at the center of the action. Terone hit a tough hook shot layup, avoiding the block, while freshman Ronnie swished a long desperation floater while trying to draw the foul.
The lead swelled to 63-33 with over 10 minutes remaining, and it never got back below 28. The rarely-used reserves and walk-ons were put in early, and things finished with the the Boilermakers happily running out the clock.
Outshot 53 percent to 29 percent and out-rebounded 48-23, Northwestern has now lost by double digits in their last five games. They are winless over the past three weeks, with their last victory coming in the home win against Purdue on Feb. 2.
The Wildcats will try to end this skid when No. 18 Ohio State comes to town Thursday, fresh off an upset of No. 4 Michigan State Sunday.